Imagine yourself rising from the dead with an insatiable thirst for revenge, only to carry a curse of a literal thousand voices upon returning. To deal with the burden of having an entire community of souls scream in your head about how you failed them, how they’re guiding you to where you need to be — it’s just all too much for any regular human being.

Hellblade introduced us to such a character in Senua, who was willing to go through hell and back for a person she loved. In a near twist of fate, she was consumed by darkness and the souls of her entire clan lost in her thoughts. However, she had learned to accept her reality. She hoped that this newfound power would lead her to a bigger purpose ahead.

I had zero expectations heading into Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 other than what the title screen would show me. Honestly, I saw that ominous image with a face and just thought of how horrifying this game was going to be. I didn’t realize that there was a whole lot more to this journey than I thought.

A foiled revenge plot

I didn’t get to play the first game in the series. So, the fact that the game starts off with a recap was great. Admittedly, I was still trying to sort out a lot of the details since it happened within 10-15 minutes of me playing. Still, I got caught up to what was happening pretty fast, especially to the aftermath of Senua’s actions after Hellblade.

The story begins as Senua finds herself washed ashore on an island she’s completely unaware of. In an attempt to get some clarity, she is met with the shadow of her past, reminding her of who she is and her place in the world. Her plan of revenge is falling apart, and to make it worse, the voices in her head just won’t stop talking. At the end of the opening sequence, she comes face to face with the man that took her in as a slave, and she is roaring to strike.

And then, the moment to strike was cut short because other things came into play.

One of the things I noted about the story was that it took such a short time to just get everything patted down. I didn’t feel like I got sidetracked way too many times. Every little detail made sense to what Senua will eventually do for the rest of the game. I can’t say much else about the story that would spoil things. But it does get good the deeper you go into the island.

Heaven and hell in full glory

Speaking of said island, on the Xbox Series X, the entire overworld is absolutely stunning. Yes, even the desolate areas in the game. A lot of the areas in-game popped out during the day scenes. They received proper lighting when things got dark most of the time. Even in a game with a not-so-open world map, every little detail was given enough thought.

This one area in particular with Senua exploring the fauna through the Hiddenfolk stages was a prime example of how the developers went all out with it, design-wise. Honestly, the colors were stunning and the elements you interact with on the overworld mixed well. When I went into Photo Mode to grab this, I just took time to get as many shots in this area.

Also, I have to applaud Ninja Theory for actually having a Photo Mode that you can use even in the cutscenes to capture some amazing highlights and sceneries! I wish everyone else did it like this, instead of just giving it to live gameplay.

Puzzled minds with extreme overthinking

A core mechanic of the Hellblade games involves the player solving a series of puzzles at critical moments in Senua’s journey. Even in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the puzzle solving continues with multiple visual cues to guide you on what elements you need for each puzzle. These added another dimension to the whole experience for me, plus it even increased my stress levels too.

As you progress deeper into the game, the puzzles actually become more challenging and hard to crack. It forces you to explore the entire area. There are moments in which the game tells you you’re on the right track. That’s when you rely on Senua’s focus abilities. Also, the voices in your head can come in handy. There are times that they even tell you that you’ve been stuck in a spot you’ve already visited.

It’s overthinking at its finest, but at least you don’t have to juggle that while fighting hordes of enemies and there’s no time pressure.

Fighting your demons, literally

Combat in this game is different from what I’m used to, especially in semi-open world games with multiple enemies rushing you. Unlike other games wherein being aggressive is the name of the game, Senua’s Saga has a timing approach to it with visual cues. Essentially, you just have to know when light and heavy attacks come in, block or dodge accordingly, then fight back.

It took a while to master the timings of some enemies. It was nearly impossible to stay alive in most fights. Once you have it down to a tee, every fight scene feels less of a hassle to deal with. However, the enemies also get harder and have added gimmicks like breathing fire to stop you. Dying isn’t an option either because each death results in resetting every fight scene.

To aid you in your battles, the trusty Focus mechanic also acts as a timely boost by simply stopping time. This was super helpful to get you to do multiple attacks. It cuts the battle time and take down stronger enemies. 

Confronting your past

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a rollercoaster of emotions and controller-button mashing that was simple enough to go through every step of the way. The linear storyline with great overworld visuals and equally solid gameplay mechanics just suits this type of game well. As somebody who didn’t even get to play the first game, this was definitely something new and unexpected.

If anything, I felt that this game had too much going for it. For some people, this may not be their cup of tea. For one, the story, while linear in progression, can feel a bit rushed especially when building character relationships all throughout. Second, combat mechanics can take a while to get used to, especially on the timings of enemy attacks. These aren’t total dealbreakers in the grand scheme of things, but they do make the game a little bit frustrating.

Overall, the game is simple as it should be. But fair warning: this game has too many voices for you to listen to. If you’re not a fan of that, you can definitely tune them out and focus on the demons you have to slay!

I still remember the Southeast Asian launch of the POCO F1/Pocophone F1. Among other things, I distinctly remember then POCO Global Head Alvin Tse saying they “don’t need cameras that pop-up”. That was a thing in 2018-2019. Time has proven him ultimately right. What POCO focused on is performance and that is alive and well in their latest offering – the POCO F6 Pro. 

Specs never tell the whole story of a gadget. But to understand what you’re dealing with, this is what the POCO F6 Pro is packing: 

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform with Qualcomm AI Engine
• RAM + Internal Storage: 12+256GB, 12+512GB, 16GB+1TB
• Display: 6.67” WQHD+ 120Hz Flow AMOLED, Up to 120Hz, instant touch sampling rate 2160Hz, 4000 nits peak brightness 
• Cameras: 50MP main camera with OIS, f/1.6 | 8MP ultra-wide camera. f/2.2 | 2MP macro camera. f/2.4 | 16MP front
• Battery and Charging: 5,000mAh, 120W Hypercharge 

The chip powering this device is the same one you can find on some celebrated flagship smartphones from late 2023 to early 2024. That’s what this particular POCO phone is built around – performance. And that’s bolstered even further by up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage which happens to be the configuration of our review device. Everything else: gravy. 

Unboxing 

Watch unboxing here.

All the usuals are there: Phone, some documentation, SIM Card ejection tool, USB-C Cable, 120W power adapter, and a silicone protective case that I have a minor gripe with. 

I think smartphone brands can do better than plain silicone or clear jelly cases. They take so much time hyping up the back design of each handset only to include cases that take away from all of that. The plain gray silicone case included here is particularly egregious seeing as it completely covers the understated but pleasant look of the POCO F6 Pro. I have more to say but perhaps I’ll save that for another article. 

Prime Performance

Let’s dive into the thick of things. How smooth of an operator is the POCO F6 Pro? Incredibly. So smooth it almost feels criminal. The chip and Xiaomi HyperOS combo deliver a satisfying swiping and tapping experience in every way you navigate the phone. 

Naturally, it does well in your day-to-day dealings on social, chat, and work apps. There’s no lag, slow down, whatsoever. Par for the course for a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 device. 

A handy Game Manager so you can play uninterrupted.

To push it quite a bit, we played a handful of games. And while each one plays a little differently from each other, the general experience is mostly the same. Everything ran as smooth as a baby’s butt cheeks. 

I come and go and Call of Duty: Mobile so my skills are nowhere near that 3-week stretch some years ago when I was obsessed with the game. That said, my frowned-upon camp-out playstyle still yielded me a couple of MVP victories, albeit on low stakes death matches. 

It’s in these types of games that the touch sampling rate plays a huge part. First person shooters require quick movements and reflexes. In my playthrough, never did I feel that I was fighting against the controls just to hit my targets. 

The graphics settings were also automatically set to Very High right of the bat. This is true not only for Call of Duty Mobile but also for the rest of the titles that we played. 

One game I was pretty excited to play was Solo Leveling Arise. It’s based on a popular Manwha title that just recently also got an animé adaptation. This is probably the game I spent the most time playing on the POCO F6 Pro. I noticed the phone got warm at the start but it never did again in my succeeding playthroughs. 

Where it did constantly get warm was when I fired up Genshin Impact. But that’s a normal response by any phone to that game. We also played a bit of Honkai Star Rail and Asphalt 9 just to round out the variety of games. 

Again, all these games played incredibly smoothly at high to very high graphics settings. Battery drain varied but if you’re using the WQHD screen in all its glory, expect to get around an hour and a half of gaming (which is plenty for mobile) before you start reaching out for that 120W power adapter. 

The 16GB RAM and 1TB Internal Storage combination was also a huge boon. Just all the games I mentioned installed with all assets downloaded already account for a hair over 100GB of storage space. If the phone we were using was the one with 256GB, we may have potentially experienced some slow down. But we’re privileged to not have experienced it. 

POCO Snaps

The cameras on the POCO F6 Pro isn’t much to write home about. They are serviceable. You don’t need get a lot of quality and flexibility when zooming in as you start to lose detail beyond 2x. But the main shooter and ultra wide angle lens are more than good enough for snaps you post on social platforms. 

I particularly enjoyed how it shot dimly lit scenes. It was never overexposed and the dark areas are well balanced with those that are well lit. 

We shot plenty in the two days spent in Dubai prior to the device’s global launch. Here’s a photo dump for your enjoyment and scrutiny. Apologies in advance for all my clownery in some of the photos.

Day 1 in Dubai

The View Palm

Museum of the Future

Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall

Other shots 

Bight-sized POCO thoughts 

If you’re coming from bulkier, heftier phones which tend to be the case in flagship smartphones north of US$ 1000, then the POCO F6 Pro could feel like a welcome change. 

Its body profile has more in common with midrangers: thin, light, and relatively easy to use on one hand only even for extended doom scrolling periods. 

Its back is smooth and a little slippery. As a klutz, I have already dropped the phone more times than I care to admit in under a week.

It curiously has a lower IP rating (54) than the non Pro variant (64). 

The AI extend feature on images is present on the default Gallery up but the option doesn’t seem to be available on every photo. 

If you edit on CapCut, the phone also had no trouble running it. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a beast of a chip. 

In the two days we were out and about using the phone heavily both for photo-capturing as well as switching between work, chat, and social apps, we hit 50% battery drain in the middle of the day. 

With heavy use it drains a fair amount, but it also charges pretty darn quickly. Best paired with high power output power banks when you’re out all day. 

Is the POCO F6 Pro your GadgetMatch? 

In the Philippines, the 16GB+1TB  POCO F6 Pro retails for PhP 32,999 (roughly a hair under US$ 600). There are early bird offerings which we’ll detail later. The feature set is fair for the asking price. Can’t say it’s the absolutely incredible price-to-performance ratio that the POCO F6 Pro has been known for, but you also won’t feel short changed if you decide to grab one for yourself. 

It really depends on what you prioritize on your smartphone. If you’re after a camera performance that touches flagship air, look elsewhere. That’s not exactly what this phone is made for. 

I daresay this is the perfect match for those who want to game a lot but do not want the “look” that gaming phones tend to come with. It’s an all-rounder that skews towards premium performance.

The POCO F6 Pro hangs its hat on its overall performance. It’s the POCO F line staying true to what it has always offered – a powerhouse smartphone that runs any and every app well without compromises. Whether that’s for socials, work, or mobile gaming, you won’t find yourself wanting for power with the POCO F6 Pro. 

A few years ago, I was a staunch advocate of the Huawei P20 Pro. The camera-focused flagship convinced me to shelve my Nikon DSLR for something more compact. Now, years later, Huawei is back with a new revolution for smartphone photography. If you’re a fan of impressive cameras on a smartphone, it’s time to take a look at the Huawei Pura 70 Pro.

A new forward design

First of all, it’s pronounced /pyu-ra/. To celebrate 12 years of the lineup, Huawei is ditching the “P” scheme and rebranding it to the Pura series. It’s more than just a name change, too.

The first thing you might notice is the unique rear camera design. Rather than a circular island in the middle or a traditional top-left setup, the Pura 70 Pro houses a triangular island with a hidden-Mickey-like layout for the three cameras.

It’s definitely a unique design. I’ve had a few friends come up to me and ask what phone I was reviewing. And, on a more personal note, I love how the island is positioned perfectly to rest on my index finger while I’m holding it. If you’re as concerned about a ghastly pinky dent as I am, the Pura 70 Pro’s design is unintentionally a savior.

Besides the island, the flagship revels in its simplicity: a curved screen flowing down to glossy metal sides before culminating in a simple (but elegant) matte back. It’s a design that stands out but stays easy on the eyes. It’s just a shame that the purple variant isn’t available everywhere.

As always, a camera powerhouse

Since it’s right there, the phone’s cameras are a great place to start looking at what it can do. The Pura 70 Pro comes with a 50-megapixel main shooter, a 12.5-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. The latter can zoom by up to 3.5x optically and 100x digitally.

On their own, the cameras are already impressive. They can hold their own in adequate lighting conditions. The software emphasizes the correct color profiles depending on the situation. Plus, the zooming can just blow you away. Among the long telephoto lens I’ve reviewed, the Pura 70 Pro is up there. I can zoom in on faraway buildings, and the software just magically makes them crystal clear.

Speaking of the software, the real magic stems from the system’s AI. You can see this in real time, too. When you view a newly shot photo, the AI takes two seconds before applying corrections. You can actually see a before-and-after comparison. It’s, quite simply, magic. Colors start becoming more vibrant, and blurry subjects suddenly come into focus.

Of course, there are some situations where the AI adjustments are egregious. For example (and this is expected), photos of the moon look impossibly clear. Sometimes, the background blurs are just too much. This is coming from a meticulous eye, though. If you don’t really mind the nitty-gritty, it’s an amazing camera. Good thing I don’t have another DSLR to shelve.

If you want to see more of the hardware and software working together, try out the phone’s other modes. Ultra Speed Snapshot mode, for example, can supposedly take subjects going as fast as 300kph. Portrait mode optimizes the aperture and makes subjects sparkle. Finally, the Super Macro mode makes tiny subjects look like giants. I’ve tried all the modes, and the Pura 70 Pro just works in all three.

Kunlun expanded

After spending some time with the rear glass, it’s time to look at the glass in front. The Pura 70 Pro features the second generation of Kunlun glass. The company promises better drop and scratch resistance, compared to last year’s iteration.

Though Huawei is reserving the scratch test for the Ultra, I found that the Pro can handle tough situations, too. For example, I kept the phone in my pocket inadvertently for a whole day with a set of keys right up its screen. Instead of looking like a cat owner’s arm, the Huawei Pura 70 Pro still had a pristine screen free of any scratches.

As a display, the screen was also pleasantly bright. It puts out images at 120Hz refresh rate and 2500 nits of brightness. Even under a noonday sun, I had no issue with glare or an inability to read the screen. Watching videos on the screen was also pleasant.

Google is there… technically

Now, let’s answer your burning question: Does the Pura 70 Pro have Google? Technically, yes.

Huawei’s AppGallery does, in fact, have Google apps inside. According to Huawei, it has millions of apps. However, the online storefront doesn’t exactly carry all of them. Rather, it has a set of third-party sources you can grab the APKs from.

For example, if you want to install Instagram, the AppGallery redirects you to a website where you can download the latest APK version of the app. If it helps, the platform also scans the website for potential security threats. It’s definitely an irregular way to grab the latest software. I did install a few apps this way, but I don’t see myself growing comfortable with the method.

This doesn’t even begin to touch the thorny issue of Google apps. Yes, you can get Google’s app through this way. However, some of them constantly have warnings that the software isn’t compatible with the software. They work, though. A few still don’t. For example, the Play Store I tried downloading is too outdated to run.

Despite the difficulty, the AppGallery does have some Google apps. But it’s not what you might expect. They’re just Quick Apps, Huawei’s version of Instant Apps. Instead of launching a dedicated app, it launches a browser version of the service. Gmail, for example, works this way.

I’m sure that, with enough patience, anyone can make the phone work with a healthy dose of Google apps. If I were to make this my daily driver, I’d definitely put in the extra effort to make sure it runs smoothly with the right apps. However, the difficulty is definitely something to consider if you’re looking to upgrade.

Flagship-worthy performance

Don’t let the difficulty worry you that much about the performance. The Pura 70 Pro still handled everything I threw at it. I barely saw framerate dips when trying out Honkai Impact and Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat. Likewise, watching videos didn’t really detract from what the phone can do.

One slight hiccup, though, is its heat when operating the camera for extended periods of time. On one photowalk under the sun, the camera got too hot that I got warnings that the camera might stop working properly.

Despite the hit on comfort, the phone never really stopped working for me. I even tried recording a video for 12 minutes straight. It still worked fine afterwards.

A.Eye.

I’m not a huge fan of packing a phone with so much AI, but the Pura 70 Pro does make a compelling case. The phone’s eye-tracking features are impressive.

For example, it has interactive wallpapers that can follow your eyes. One wallpaper features a tennis match between two characters. The ball moves between the two when your eyes look at the ball. It’s mesmerizing. You’ll easily find yourself just staring for minutes.

There are more useful features, too. AI Privacy View, for example, keeps your notifications safe from another person’s eyes if it detects that you’re not holding the phone. Air scroll can identify your hand from afar. If your phone is propped up against the wall, you can use hand gestures to scroll up and down.

Strong battery, even stronger charging

The Pura 70 Pro comes with a large 5050mAh battery. Even under heavy use, the battery can last an entire day. There were only a few scenarios when I found myself lacking, such as when I shot a video for 12 minutes. All in all, it’s a capable battery attached to this powerhouse of a phone.

Still, if you find 5050mAh lacking, the package comes with a 100W SuperCharge adapter. Coming from completely empty, the charger delivered over 20 percent battery in just 5 minutes. On its own, it bumped up to full in less than 30 minutes.

If that’s not enough of a clincher, the phone also supports 20W reverse wireless charging. If your other devices run out of juice, Huawei can keep you going for a little while longer.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Years ago, Huawei made a huge impression on the smartphone world with the P20 Pro. Since then, the company weathered restrictions from the United States. They are still bouncing back as I write this.

Though the Pura 70 Pro still has tinges of the ongoing restrictions, Huawei is returning to the same places that made it popular for smartphone photography enthusiasts in the first place. If you’re hunting for your next camera-heavy phone, the Pura 70 Pro is a worthy choice.

The Pura 70 Pro retails for PhP 59,999. Not a bad deal.